Works for
Anti-agingCamellia sinensis leaf extractNot delivered
“Provides Anti-aging properties”
This product does not contain ingredients that are able to reduce fine lines and wrinkles or help with skin elasticity, but it can improve the look of the skin temporarily through moisturization. Well-moisturized skin might also be able to repair the sun damage better.This ingredient - camellia sinensis leaf extract - could be helpful for preventing or repairing signs of aging in theory, but there is no evidence that it actually works.
This ingredient camellia sinensis leaf extract might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin and help it fight off some of the sun damage.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Ophiopogon japonicus root extract + 3 moreMay help
This product contains antioxidants (camellia sinensis leaf extract) that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin to lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun). There is not enough evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin though.
MoisturizingSide benefit · Betaine, Glycerin + 13 moreWorks
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
betaine, biosaccharide gum-1.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: chondrus crispus extract, phenyl trimethicone.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Alcohol, Nelumbo nucifera flower extract + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Ophiopogon japonicus root extract~23–34%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and support skin barrier function, but research on its effectiveness in skin is lacking
More about Ophiopogon japonicus root extractWater~11–16%
Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract~4.8–7.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
More about Glycyrrhiza glabra root extractButylene glycol~3.3–4.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolAlcohol~2.6–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
More about AlcoholBetaine~1.9–2.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
More about BetaineGlycerin~1.6–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinCamellia sinensis leaf extract~1.2–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
More about Camellia sinensis leaf extractPaeonia lactiflora extract~1.1–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Nelumbo nucifera flower extract~0.85–1.25%
Polygonatum officinale rhizome/root extract~0.5–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Lilium candidum bulb extract~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Rehmannia glutinosa root extract~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Honey~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the skin and might have some anti-bacterial properties. Can be an allergen
More about HoneyJuglans regia seed extract~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Portulaca oleracea extract~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that has some anti-oxidant activity, but solid research is lacking. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Portulaca oleracea extractZiziphus jujuba fruit extract~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Biosaccharide gum-1~0.15–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and is claimed to provide a longer-lasting hydration because of its ability to create a water-binding film on the surface of the skin
More about Biosaccharide gum-1Natto gum~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Peg/ppg-17/6 copolymer~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Glyceryl polymethacrylate~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture
More about Glyceryl polymethacrylateBis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silaneCarbomer~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations
More about CarbomerPeg-60 hydrogenated castor oil~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Peg-60 hydrogenated castor oilDextrin~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A sugar that is used to stabilize the product formulation. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about DextrinTheobroma cacao extract~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Xanthan gum~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumEthylhexylglycerin~0.1–0.45%
Chondrus crispus extract~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Red algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and create a nicer product consistency
More about Chondrus crispus extractPhenyl trimethicone~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture
More about Phenyl trimethiconeHydrogenated lecithin~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to retain moisture by creating a protective barrier on the skin. Rich in fatty acids. Improves product texture and helps with the penetration of other ingredients.
More about Hydrogenated lecithinPropylene glycol~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolTromethamine~0.05–0.25%
Disodium edta~0.05–0.2%
Phenoxyethanol~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolParfum~0.01–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumIngredient list view
Ophiopogon japonicus root extract, Water, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, Butylene glycol, Alcohol, Betaine, Glycerin, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Paeonia lactiflora extract, Nelumbo nucifera flower extract, Polygonatum officinale rhizome/root extract, Lilium candidum bulb extract, Rehmannia glutinosa root extract, Honey, Juglans regia seed extract, Portulaca oleracea extract, Ziziphus jujuba fruit extract, Biosaccharide gum-1, Natto gum, Peg/ppg-17/6 copolymer, Glyceryl polymethacrylate, Bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane, Carbomer, Peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, Dextrin, Theobroma cacao extract, Xanthan gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chondrus crispus extract, Phenyl trimethicone, Hydrogenated lecithin, Propylene glycol, Tromethamine, Disodium edta, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| SulwhasooFirst Care Activating Serum EXYOUR PRODUCT | BentonDeep Green Tea Serum | numbuzinNo.8 Glossy Essence Serum 50ml | AMOREPACIFICTIME RESPONSE Skin Reserve Serum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 40% | 40% | 40% |
| Price | — | $2.03 | $17.52 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 6 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Madecassoside | Centella Asiatica Extract | Adenosine |
| Irritancy | High | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: NARS Skin Light Reflecting Firming SerumMISSHA Time Revolution Primestem 100 Lifting Serum
Product summary
"Sulwhasoo - First Care Activating Serum EX" could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Humectants (biosaccharide gum-1 0.15% - 0.70%, glycerin 1.60% - 2.40% and betaine 1.90% - 2.80%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails from 18.50A$ up to 27.50A$ in Australia.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 8 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Cosmetic use of an ophiopogon japonicus active principlepatents.google.com
- 3
- 4Portulaca oleracea (purslane)mdedge.com
- 5Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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